The State Department says there’s about to be a massive backlog of passport applications. By Shannon McMahon , USA TODAY Passp...
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| The State Department says there’s about to be a massive backlog of passport applications. |
By Shannon McMahon, USA TODAY
Passport changes are coming, and if you plan on traveling in the future — especially if you’re among the 49 million Americans whose passports will expire in the next few years — you need to know what passport changes are in store.
While
it may seem easy enough to acquire or renew a passport if and when you
plan a trip, the State Department says there’s about to be a massive
backlog of passport applications. (More on that in a minute.) Plus,
passports themselves are going to change. Here’s what you should know
about both the expected passport application delays and the passport
changes coming in the years ahead.
You should renew your passport now
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decade ago, an important piece of travel legislation made American
passports much more in-demand. The State Department saw an "unprecedented surge"
in applications when a 2007 law enacted by the 9/11 Commission
established passports as necessary for all travel to and from Canada,
Mexico and the Caribbean. Millions of travelers acquired 10-year
passports that year as a result, and now they're all about to
expire. It's safe to assume many of those passport holders will need to
renew, which means that passport applications will jump significantly
once again.
Concerned about wait times yet? Passport renewal
already takes about six weeks, and many destinations require foreign
passports to be valid for months after your trip. Factor in unknown
delays, and you might have a lot less time to renew than you thought.
REAL ID changes aren’t helping
A newer federal law, the REAL ID Act,
will soon enforce updates to all state-level identification in the form
of security features like machine-readable data chips. Now people in
some states that are lagging behind in the technology are realizing that
their licenses might soon be invalid for air travel — even on domestic trips. That could mean a rise in passport applications as well.
Travelers
using IDs issued by certain states — for example, Maine and Missouri —
could be turned away at the gate starting in 2017 if their state doesn't
adjust to the new standards in time. Some states are under review and
have been given a deadline extension, but all licenses must comply with
the standards by 2020. Frequent travelers worried that their state won't
comply in time may go ahead and renew or acquire a passport instead.
Find out if your state has complied or been given an extension here.
Expect new security features
Like
state IDs, passports will now include added technology to ensure
security and decrease fraud. Catching up with many other countries, U.S.
passport changes mean that new passports will include a data chip that
can provide all your personal info upon scanning it onto a computer. You
can also expect your new passport to be lighter — rather than the
52-page passports of the past, only 28 pages will be included unless you
opt to get more.
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Double-check children’s passports
If
you've lost track of when your own passport needs renewing and you
travel with children, double-check your child's passport as well. Child passports
are only valid for five years, and they're subject to more paperwork,
like parental consent forms and proof of a parent-child relationship.
How to renew your passport
You can apply for or renew a passport online through the State Department, or in person at an eligible local agency like the post office. Make sure you follow instructions carefully and meet all the requirements. No one wants to pay the $110 application fee twice because they wore glasses in their passport photo — ouch.
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